Thomas
Helmuth
Thomas
Helmuth
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ArticleStrong margin influence on the Arctic Ocean Barium Cycle revealed by pan‐Arctic synthesis(American Geophysical Union, 2022-03-22) Whitmore, Laura M. ; Shiller, Alan M. ; Horner, Tristan J. ; Xiang, Yang ; Auro, Maureen E. ; Bauch, Dorothea ; Dehairs, Frank ; Lam, Phoebe J. ; Li, Jingxuan ; Maldonado, Maria T. ; Mears, Chantal ; Newton, Robert ; Pasqualini, Angelica ; Planquette, Helene ; Rember, Robert ; Thomas, HelmuthEarly studies revealed relationships between barium (Ba), particulate organic carbon and silicate, suggesting applications for Ba as a paleoproductivity tracer and as a tracer of modern ocean circulation. But, what controls the distribution of barium (Ba) in the oceans? Here, we investigated the Arctic Ocean Ba cycle through a one-of-a-kind data set containing dissolved (dBa), particulate (pBa), and stable isotope Ba ratio (δ138Ba) data from four Arctic GEOTRACES expeditions conducted in 2015. We hypothesized that margins would be a substantial source of Ba to the Arctic Ocean water column. The dBa, pBa, and δ138Ba distributions all suggest significant modification of inflowing Pacific seawater over the shelves, and the dBa mass balance implies that ∼50% of the dBa inventory (upper 500 m of the Arctic water column) was supplied by nonconservative inputs. Calculated areal dBa fluxes are up to 10 μmol m−2 day−1 on the margin, which is comparable to fluxes described in other regions. Applying this approach to dBa data from the 1994 Arctic Ocean Survey yields similar results. The Canadian Arctic Archipelago did not appear to have a similar margin source; rather, the dBa distribution in this section is consistent with mixing of Arctic Ocean-derived waters and Baffin Bay-derived waters. Although we lack enough information to identify the specifics of the shelf sediment Ba source, we suspect that a sedimentary remineralization and terrigenous sources (e.g., submarine groundwater discharge or fluvial particles) are contributors.
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ArticleChanges in the North Atlantic Oscillation influence CO2 uptake in the North Atlantic over the past 2 decades(American Geophysical Union, 2008-12-31) Thomas, Helmuth ; Prowe, A. E. Friederike ; Lima, Ivan D. ; Doney, Scott C. ; Wanninkhof, Rik ; Greatbatch, Richard J. ; Schuster, Ute ; Corbiere, AntoineObservational studies report a rapid decline of ocean CO2 uptake in the temperate North Atlantic during the last decade. We analyze these findings using ocean physical-biological numerical simulations forced with interannually varying atmospheric conditions for the period 1979–2004. In the simulations, surface ocean water mass properties and CO2 system variables exhibit substantial multiannual variability on sub-basin scales in response to wind-driven reorganization in ocean circulation and surface warming/cooling. The simulated temporal evolution of the ocean CO2 system is broadly consistent with reported observational trends and is influenced substantially by the phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Many of the observational estimates cover a period after 1995 of mostly negative or weakly positive NAO conditions, which are characterized in the simulations by reduced North Atlantic Current transport of subtropical waters into the eastern basin and by a decline in CO2 uptake. We suggest therefore that air-sea CO2 uptake may rebound in the eastern temperate North Atlantic during future periods of more positive NAO, similar to the patterns found in our model for the sustained positive NAO period in the early 1990s. Thus, our analysis indicates that the recent rapid shifts in CO2 flux reflect decadal perturbations superimposed on more gradual secular trends. The simulations highlight the need for long-term ocean carbon observations and modeling to fully resolve multiannual variability, which can obscure detection of the long-term changes associated with anthropogenic CO2 uptake and climate change.
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ArticleUsing Ra-226 and Ra-228 isotopes to distinguish water mass distribution in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago(European Geosciences Union, 2020-10-16) Mears, Chantal ; Thomas, Helmuth ; Henderson, Paul B. ; Charette, Matthew A. ; MacIntyre, Hugh ; Dehairs, Frank ; Monnin, Christophe ; Mucci, AlfonsoAs a shelf-dominated basin, the Arctic Ocean and its biogeochemistry are heavily influenced by continental and riverine sources. Radium isotopes (226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra, and 223Ra), are transferred from the sediments to seawater, making them ideal tracers of sediment–water exchange processes and ocean mixing. As the two long-lived isotopes of the radium quartet, 226Ra and 228Ra (226Ra with a t1∕2 of 1600 years and 228Ra with a t1∕2 of 5.8 years) can provide insight into the water mass compositions, distribution patterns, as well as mixing processes and their associated timescales throughout the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). The wide range of 226Ra and 228Ra activities, as well as of the 228Ra∕226Ra, measured in water samples collected during the 2015 GEOTRACES cruise, complemented by additional chemical tracers – dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (AT), barium (Ba), and the stable oxygen isotope composition of water (δ18O) – highlight the dominant biogeochemical, hydrographic, and bathymetric features of the CAA. Bathymetric features, such as the continental shelf and shallow coastal sills, are critical in modulating circulation patterns within the CAA, including the bulk flow of Pacific waters and the inhibited eastward flow of denser Atlantic waters through the CAA. Using a principal component analysis, we unravel the dominant mechanisms and apparent water mass end-members that shape the tracer distributions. We identify two distinct water masses located above and below the upper halocline layer throughout the CAA and distinctly differentiate surface waters in the eastern and western CAA. Furthermore, we highlight water exchange across 80∘ W, inferring a draw of Atlantic water (originating from Baffin Bay) into the CAA. This underscores the presence of an Atlantic water “U-turn” located at Barrow Strait, where the same water mass is seen along the northernmost edge at 80∘ W as well as along the southeasternmost confines of Lancaster Sound. Overall, this study provides a stepping stone for future research initiatives within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, revealing how quantifying disparities in the distributions of radioactive tracers can provide valuable information on water mass distributions, flow patterns, and mixing within vulnerable areas such as the CAA.
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ArticleSurface ocean pCO2 seasonality and sea-air CO2 flux estimates for the North American east coast(John Wiley & Sons, 2013-10-16) Signorini, Sergio R. ; Mannino, Antonio ; Najjar, Raymond G. ; Friedrichs, Marjorie A. M. ; Cai, Wei-Jun ; Salisbury, Joseph E. ; Wang, Zhaohui Aleck ; Thomas, Helmuth ; Shadwick, Elizabeth H.Underway and in situ observations of surface ocean pCO2, combined with satellite data, were used to develop pCO2 regional algorithms to analyze the seasonal and interannual variability of surface ocean pCO2 and sea-air CO2 flux for five physically and biologically distinct regions of the eastern North American continental shelf: the South Atlantic Bight (SAB), the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB), the Gulf of Maine (GoM), Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank (NS+GB), and the Scotian Shelf (SS). Temperature and dissolved inorganic carbon variability are the most influential factors driving the seasonality of pCO2. Estimates of the sea-air CO2 flux were derived from the available pCO2 data, as well as from the pCO2 reconstructed by the algorithm. Two different gas exchange parameterizations were used. The SS, GB+NS, MAB, and SAB regions are net sinks of atmospheric CO2 while the GoM is a weak source. The estimates vary depending on the use of surface ocean pCO2 from the data or algorithm, as well as with the use of the two different gas exchange parameterizations. Most of the regional estimates are in general agreement with previous studies when the range of uncertainty and interannual variability are taken into account. According to the algorithm, the average annual uptake of atmospheric CO2 by eastern North American continental shelf waters is found to be between −3.4 and −5.4 Tg C yr−1 (areal average of −0.7 to −1.0 mol CO2 m−2 yr−1) over the period 2003–2010.
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ArticleOcean and coastal acidification off New England and Nova Scotia(The Oceanography Society, 2015-06) Gledhill, Dwight K. ; White, Meredith M. ; Salisbury, Joseph E. ; Thomas, Helmuth ; Mlsna, Ivy ; Liebman, Matthew ; Mook, Bill ; Grear, Jason S. ; Candelmo, Allison C. ; Chambers, R. Christopher ; Gobler, Christopher J. ; Hunt, Christopher W. ; King, Andrew L. ; Price, Nichole N. ; Signorini, Sergio R. ; Stancioff, Esperanza ; Stymiest, Cassie ; Wahle, Richard A. ; Waller, Jesica D. ; Rebuck, Nathan D. ; Wang, Zhaohui Aleck ; Capson, Todd L. ; Morrison, J. Ruairidh ; Cooley, Sarah R. ; Doney, Scott C.New England coastal and adjacent Nova Scotia shelf waters have a reduced buffering capacity because of significant freshwater input, making the region’s waters potentially more vulnerable to coastal acidification. Nutrient loading and heavy precipitation events further acidify the region’s poorly buffered coastal waters. Despite the apparent vulnerability of these waters, and fisheries’ and mariculture’s significant dependence on calcifying species, the community lacks the ability to confidently predict how the region’s ecosystems will respond to continued ocean and coastal acidification. Here, we discuss ocean and coastal acidification processes specific to New England coastal and Nova Scotia shelf waters and review current understanding of the biological consequences most relevant to the region. We also identify key research and monitoring needs to be addressed and highlight existing capacities that should be leveraged to advance a regional understanding of ocean and coastal acidification.
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ArticleCoastal ocean and shelf-sea biogeochemical cycling of trace elements and isotopes : lessons learned from GEOTRACES(The Royal Society, 2016-10-17) Charette, Matthew A. ; Lam, Phoebe J. ; Lohan, Maeve C. ; Kwon, Eun Young ; Hatje, Vanessa ; Jeandel, Catherine ; Shiller, Alan M. ; Cutter, Gregory A. ; Thomas, Alex ; Boyd, Philip ; Homoky, William B. ; Milne, Angela ; Thomas, Helmuth ; Andersson, Per S. ; Porcelli, Don ; Tanaka, Takahiro ; Geibert, Walter ; Dehairs, Frank ; Garcia-Orellana, JordiContinental shelves and shelf seas play a central role in the global carbon cycle. However, their importance with respect to trace element and isotope (TEI) inputs to ocean basins is less well understood. Here, we present major findings on shelf TEI biogeochemistry from the GEOTRACES programme as well as a proof of concept for a new method to estimate shelf TEI fluxes. The case studies focus on advances in our understanding of TEI cycling in the Arctic, transformations within a major river estuary (Amazon), shelf sediment micronutrient fluxes and basin-scale estimates of submarine groundwater discharge. The proposed shelf flux tracer is 228-radium (T1/2 = 5.75 yr), which is continuously supplied to the shelf from coastal aquifers, sediment porewater exchange and rivers. Model-derived shelf 228Ra fluxes are combined with TEI/ 228Ra ratios to quantify ocean TEI fluxes from the western North Atlantic margin. The results from this new approach agree well with previous estimates for shelf Co, Fe, Mn and Zn inputs and exceed published estimates of atmospheric deposition by factors of approximately 3–23. Lastly, recommendations are made for additional GEOTRACES process studies and coastal margin-focused section cruises that will help refine the model and provide better insight on the mechanisms driving shelf-derived TEI fluxes to the ocean.
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ArticleRapid decline of the CO2 buffering capacity in the North Sea and implications for the North Atlantic Ocean(American Geophysical Union, 2007-10-06) Thomas, Helmuth ; Prowe, A. E. Friederike ; van Heuven, Steven ; Bozec, Yann ; Baar, Hein J. W. de ; Schiettecatte, Laure-Sophie ; Suykens, Kim ; Kone, Mathieu ; Borges, Alberto V. ; Lima, Ivan D. ; Doney, Scott C.New observations from the North Sea, a NW European shelf sea, show that between 2001 and 2005 the CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) in surface waters rose by 22 μatm, thus faster than atmospheric pCO2, which in the same period rose approximately 11 μatm. The surprisingly rapid decline in air-sea partial pressure difference (ΔpCO2) is primarily a response to an elevated water column inventory of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), which, in turn, reflects mostly anthropogenic CO2 input rather than natural interannual variability. The resulting decline in the buffering capacity of the inorganic carbonate system (increasing Revelle factor) sets up a theoretically predicted feedback loop whereby the invasion of anthropogenic CO2 reduces the ocean's ability to uptake additional CO2. Model simulations for the North Atlantic Ocean and thermodynamic principles reveal that this feedback should be stronger, at present, in colder midlatitude and subpolar waters because of the lower present-day buffer capacity and elevated DIC levels driven either by northward advected surface water and/or excess local air-sea CO2 uptake. This buffer capacity feedback mechanism helps to explain at least part of the observed trend of decreasing air-sea ΔpCO2 over time as reported in several other recent North Atlantic studies.
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ArticleAlkalinity sources in the Dutch Wadden Sea(Copernicus Publications, 2024-10-30) Norbisrath, Mona ; van Beusekom, Justus E. E. ; Thomas, HelmuthTotal alkalinity (TA) is an important chemical property that plays a decisive role in the oceanic buffering capacity with respect to CO2. TA is mainly generated by weathering on land as well as by various anaerobic metabolic processes in the water and sediments. The Wadden Sea, located in the southern North Sea, is hypothesized to be a source of TA for the North Sea, but quantifications are scarce. This study shows observations of TA, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and nutrients in the Dutch Wadden Sea in May 2019. Surface samples were taken along several transects in order to investigate spatial distribution patterns and compare them with data from the late 1980s. A tidal cycle was sampled to further shed light on TA generation and potential TA sources. We identified the Dutch Wadden Sea as a source of TA and estimated an export of 6.6 Mmol TA per tide to the North Sea. TA was generated in the sediments, with deep pore water flow during low tide enriching the surface water. A combination of anaerobic processes and CaCO3 dissolution were potential TA sources in the sediments. We deduce that seasonality and the associated nitrate availability specifically influence TA generation by denitrification, which is low in spring and summer.